ATLANTA -- David Bakhtiari loved the way Kyle Murphy played in his place at left tackle, and Murphy had nothing but good things to say about Justin McCray, who made his first start at right tackle -- the same spot where Murphy made his first start a week earlier.

Yes, the Green Bay Packers got through a game with a pair of neophytes at the two most important offensive line positions without getting Aaron Rodgers killed, but coach Mike McCarthy’s altered offensive plan couldn’t keep up with the wide-open Atlanta Falcons offense in Sunday night’s 34-23 loss and probably would be a severely limited if Bakhtiari (hamstring) and Bryan Bulaga (ankle) don’t return soon.

Before last week’s opener, Murphy had played a total of eight NFL snaps from scrimmage in his career. In two games this season, he’s played 82 snaps at right tackle and 76 at left.

“The guy competed, fought his ass off, and from someone who plays the position, understands what he has to do, the kid f---ing played well,” Bakhtiari said. “I know that he wants to be better, and he’s gonna be better, and frankly -- this gets me riled up, I don’t give a f--- what anyone writes about him, the kid f---ing competed. Kyle competed his ass off.”

McCarthy said he stopped sliding help toward Murphy midway through the second quarter.

Bakhtiari and Bulaga, the two regular starting tackles, were pregame scratches after trying to fight through their injuries all week. Bakhtiari even went through an extensive pregame warmup routine shortly before inactives were due. Without Bakhtiari and Bulaga, who has yet to play this season, the Packers turned to a quick-passing game that was heavy on screens.

Rodgers threw 11 screen passes and completed all but one -- his most such completions in a game on screens since ESPN Stats & Information began tracking them in 2010. However, he was not as accurate when he tried to get the ball down the field, completing 36.8 percent of passes traveling more than 5 yards downfield. Losing receiver Jordy Nelson to a quad injury on the first series didn’t help, either.

The short passing game helped McCray, a first-year guard and center who began working at tackle last week in practice just in case this scenario arose. But McCray, who before Sunday had never played a snap from scrimmage in a regular-season game, still had some problems. Rodgers was sacked three times, including the most vicious hit of the night from Falcons outside linebacker Vic Beasley after McCray half whiffed on a cut block.

“He hit Aaron, so I didn’t get enough of him, no,” McCray said. “There’s obviously a lot of things I need to work on, but some plays I felt good, some plays I wish I could have back. But I’ve just got to keep practicing this week and move forward.”

For his part, Rodgers took a share of the responsibility for that play.

“I’ve got to get the ball out [quickly] in that situation,” he said.

Whether McCray gets another start this Sunday against the Bengals will depend on how Bakhtiari and Bulaga progress with their injuries.

“We were just being smart,” Bakhtiari said. “The injury, it sucks. I really want to be out there. I don’t like missing practice and/or games, but it’s tough. It’s a decision that we thought was best for the team going into the game.”

Bakhtiari, Bulaga and Jason Spriggs (another tackle out with a hamstring injury) tried to offer as much pregame and in-game advice as possible.

“It’s kind of a new position for both of us, but I’m proud as heck of Justin and I think he battled his butt off,” Murphy said.